New ‘Mustang Countdown’ Video Celebrates Carroll Shelby

When it comes to the Ford Mustang, there is no name more synonymous with the brand and more iconic than Shelby.

For nearly 50 years, the Shelby name has defined the epitome of high-performance Mustangs from the early GT350s to the 200 mph, 662-horsepower Shelby GT500, which debuted prior to Mr. Shelby’s death in 2012.

One of Ford’s latest video installments for its “Mustang Countdown” video series traces some of the history of Carroll Shelby and the Mustang back to the introduction of the original 1965 GT350.

“Lee Iacocca called me in 1964 right after the Mustang came out and said, ‘we want to make a racecar out of this,” Carroll Shelby is quoted as saying in the video. “I said, ‘the thing is a secretary’s car. I don’t think it can be done’.”

Of course, as we all know, the rest is history.

The video, entitled “Carroll Shelby: King of the Road,” also highlights some interesting facts about Shelby cars including how the name for the GT350 originated, which might surprise you.